Your Guide to the Seine’s Islands: Île de la Cité Explored
Discover the beating heart of Paris on Île de la Cité, where the city began over 2,000 years ago. From Notre-Dame to Sainte-Chapelle, here’s how to explore Paris’s historic island.
The Paris-Maastricht Treaty: How a Dutch City Changed Europe Forever
The Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty) was signed in Maastricht, Netherlands in February 1992, with France as one of the principal signatories and architects, followed by a French referendum in September 1992.
Paris and the Jacobite Exiles: Scottish Refugees in 18th Century France
Ewen MacPherson of Cluny escaped to France after Culloden and served in the Royal-Écossais regiment, documented in historical records. The Scots College in Paris’s Latin Quarter served as a gathering place for Jacobite exiles, with French archives containing records of Scottish refugees who settled in France after 1746.
Your Guide to the Île Saint-Louis: Paris’s Secret Island
Tucked behind Notre-Dame, the Île Saint-Louis offers 17th-century charm, world-famous ice cream, and riverside calm just steps from the crowds. Here’s how to explore one of Paris’s most elegant small neighborhoods.
When Napoleon Looted Berlin: The Quadriga’s Journey from Brandenburg Gate to Paris
Napoleon looted the Quadriga sculpture from Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate in 1806 and took it to Paris, where it remained until 1814, when it was returned to Berlin after his defeat.
Your Guide to Mastering Parisian Café Culture
Learn the unwritten rules of Parisian café life, from ordering like a local to choosing the right table. Discover the etiquette, the drinks, and the neighborhoods where café culture thrives.
Your Guide to Visiting the Panthéon: Paris’s Temple of Heroes
Inside the neoclassical dome that honors France’s greatest minds, from Voltaire to Marie Curie. Everything you need to know about visiting the Panthéon in the Latin Quarter.
Where to Find the Best Baguettes in Paris
From award-winning bakeries to neighborhood favorites, discover where Parisians buy their daily bread and what makes a truly great baguette.
Joan of Arc’s Trial and Rehabilitation: Paris’s Role in France’s National Heroine
Joan of Arc attacked Paris at Porte Saint-Honoré in September 1429 (where she was wounded), and her rehabilitation trial took place partly in Paris in 1456; the city now has multiple monuments to her including the statue at Place des Pyramides.
Your Guide to the Musée de l’Orangerie’s Hidden Masterpieces
Beyond Monet’s Water Lilies, the Orangerie holds one of Paris’s most intimate art collections. Here’s your guide to the Walter-Guillaume collection and why this small museum deserves a full morning.